AN Irish version of the ATP's "Changing of the Guards," the term given to fluctuating tennis rankings, proved highly significant for Dubliner Scott Barron yesterday when he was named as Ireland's number one professional player for the first time in his burgeoning career.

As a member of the ITF European touring satellite team, he has returned with a sufficient supply of ATP points to relieve his Atlanta Olympics team-mate Owen Casey of the top Irish singles spot. Barron picked up the relevant ATP points in both singles and doubles, at a steady rate on Puruvian-Bolivian and Mexican satellites.

His search for more points takes off again at the end of the month in Thailand. Then it's back to Dublin in early December to compete for Ireland against Poland, Monaco and Luxembourg in the European Nations Cup at Fitzwilliam.